CN106256557B

CN106256557B - Liquid ejecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN106256557B
Application number: CN201610391278.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 原平
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2015-06-16
Filing date: 2016-06-03
Publication date: 2020-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-03
Also published as: CN106256557A; JP6648422B2; US9724943B2; US20160368291A1; JP2017007096A

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of reducing distortion generated by a medium supported by a support part and reducing the flow rate of gas guided between a liquid ejecting head and the support part, wherein the gas is ejected to the medium. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a support portion (13) that supports the sheet S being conveyed; and an ejection unit (20) configured to include a carriage (30) that is movable in a scanning direction X intersecting a transport direction Y of the sheet, and a liquid ejection head that is mounted on the carriage and ejects ink onto the sheet, wherein a plurality of ribs (52) protruding in the scanning direction are provided at an end of the ejection unit in the scanning direction at intervals in the transport direction Y, and the ribs (52) press a twist of the sheet toward the support portion by moving the carriage in the scanning direction.

Description

Liquid ejecting apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

Background

Conventionally, as an example of a printing apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus), there is known an ink jet printer in which a liquid droplet ejecting head (liquid ejecting head) is provided on a carriage (moving body) that is movable in a scanning direction, and a liquid droplet (liquid) is ejected from the liquid droplet ejecting head to a recording medium supported by a platen (supporting portion). In such a printer, when liquid droplets are ejected from a liquid droplet ejection head onto a recording medium, or when the recording medium is conveyed on a platen in a conveyance direction intersecting with a scanning direction, distortion (cockling) may occur in a part of the recording medium. Here, patent document 1 discloses a printing apparatus in which a skew straightening member for eliminating a skew generated in a recording medium is provided in a carriage.

However, in the printing apparatus of patent document 1, when the recording medium is distorted, the inclined-surface-shaped pressing portion formed at the end of the distortion straightening member comes into contact with the distorted portion of the recording medium with the movement of the carriage in the scanning direction, and the contacted portion is pressed against the platen, thereby eliminating the distortion of the recording medium. In this case, the inclined pressing portion may press the recording medium toward the platen and may guide air to a gap between the twisted straightening portion and the platen. The guided air flows so as to be further guided to the gap between the droplet discharge head and the platen, and thus may affect the landing accuracy of the droplets discharged from the droplet discharge head onto the recording medium.

Here, in the twisted straightening portion of the printing apparatus in patent document 1, in order to discharge air guided to the gap between the twisted straightening portion and the platen by the pressing portion from the gap, a through hole penetrating the twisted straightening portion in the up-down direction and a guide groove guiding air from the pressing portion side to an opening on the gap side in the through hole are provided.

However, such a guide groove and the through-hole cannot be solved in practice in which only a part of the air guided to the gap between the droplet ejection head and the platen by the inclined-surface-shaped pressing portion is discharged from the gap, and the pressing portion guides the air to the gap between the droplet ejection head and the platen.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-83707

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge apparatus capable of reducing a twist generated in a medium supported by a support portion and reducing a flow rate of a gas guided between a liquid discharge head that discharges a liquid to the medium and the support portion.

The liquid ejecting apparatus for solving the above problem includes: a support portion that supports a medium to be conveyed; and a discharge unit configured to include a movable body that is movable in a scanning direction intersecting a transport direction of the medium, and a liquid discharge head that is mounted on the movable body and discharges a liquid onto the medium, wherein a plurality of protruding portions that protrude in the scanning direction are provided at an end portion of the discharge unit in the scanning direction so as to be arranged at intervals in the transport direction, and the protruding portions press twist of the medium toward the support portion by moving the movable body in the scanning direction.

According to this configuration, unlike the case where the portion that contacts the twisted portion of the medium and presses the medium toward the support portion is formed as a long continuous surface in the conveyance direction of the medium when the protrusion moves in the scanning direction, the flow rate of the gas that is guided toward the gap between the ejection unit and the support portion during the movement is reduced. Therefore, the distortion of the medium supported by the support portion can be reduced, and the flow rate of the gas guided between the support portion and the liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid onto the medium can be reduced.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the projection is formed of a rigid plate-shaped rib extending in the scanning direction.

According to this configuration, when the projection moves in the scanning direction, the end face of the rigid plate-like rib in the scanning direction comes into contact with the distorted portion of the medium. Therefore, even if the protruding portion comes into contact with the medium when moving in the scanning direction, the protruding portion is less likely to be deformed, and the medium can be sufficiently pressed toward the supporting portion, thereby reducing distortion of the medium.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that a guide surface that guides the gas flowing between the protruding portions when the moving body moves in the scanning direction in a direction opposite to a direction in which the protruding portions press the medium is provided between the protruding portions adjacent to each other in the conveying direction.

According to this configuration, when the moving body moves in the scanning direction, the gas flowing between the protruding portions is guided by the guide surface in the direction opposite to the direction in which the protruding portions press the medium. Therefore, the flow rate of the gas guided between the liquid ejection head and the support portion when the moving body moves in the scanning direction can be reduced.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the guide surface is an inclined surface or a curved surface.

According to this configuration, the gas flowing into the space between the adjacent protruding portions in the transport direction can be smoothly guided in the direction opposite to the direction in which the protruding portions press the medium, with the protruding portions interposed therebetween.

In the above-described liquid ejection device, it is preferable that the ejection unit has an extension portion provided to extend from the movable body along the scanning direction, and the protrusion portion is formed at an end portion of the extension portion in the scanning direction.

According to this configuration, since the extending portion extending in the scanning direction is formed on the moving body, when the moving body moves in the scanning direction, an air flow is less likely to be generated between the liquid ejection head and the support portion. In other words, the variation in the landing position of the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head to the medium supported by the support portion can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a printer in an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the ejection unit.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ejection unit.

Fig. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing an end portion of the rectifying plate in the scanning direction.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the ejection unit moving in the scanning direction.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the flow of air generated when the ejection unit moves in the scanning direction.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of air generated when the ejection unit as a comparative example moves in the scanning direction.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of the rectifying plate.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example of the guide surface and the protruding portion.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the ejection unit.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ink jet printer (hereinafter, also referred to simply as "printer") that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a medium, which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in fig. 1, a printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) 11 includes a housing 12. Inside the housing 12 are mounted: the recording apparatus includes a supporting portion 13 that supports a sheet S, which is an example of a medium, from a lower side in a vertical direction Z, a conveying portion 14 that conveys the sheet S in a conveying direction Y along an upper surface of the supporting portion 13, and an ejection unit 20 that ejects ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto the conveyed sheet S to perform recording.

The conveying unit 14 includes conveying

roller pairs

15a and 15b in the conveying direction Y, and the conveying

roller pairs

15a and 15b are disposed at respective positions on the upstream side and the downstream side of the supporting unit 13. The

conveying roller pairs

15a and 15b convey the sheet S along the conveying direction Y by rotating while supporting the sheet S so as to sandwich the sheet S vertically. The conveying unit 14 includes

guide plates

16a and 16b, and the

guide plates

16a and 16b are disposed at respective positions on the upstream side of the conveying roller pair 15a and on the downstream side of the conveying roller pair 15b in the conveying direction Y. The

guide plates

16a and 16b support the sheet S from below, thereby guiding the sheet S in the conveying direction Y.

The conveying unit 14 rotates the

conveying roller pairs

15a and 15b by driving of a motor, not shown, and conveys the sheet S along the upper surface of the support unit 13 and the upper surfaces of the

guide plates

16a and 16 b. In the present embodiment, the sheet S is unwound from the roll body R wound around and overlapped in a cylindrical shape on the supply spool 17 and conveyed. The sheet S fed from the roll body R is discharged with ink by the discharge unit 20 and recorded, and then is wound and stacked again in a cylindrical shape by the winding shaft 18.

The discharge unit 20 is configured to include: a carriage (moving body) 30 provided to be capable of reciprocating in a direction intersecting the conveying direction Y of the sheet S, that is, a scanning direction X which is a width direction of the sheet S; a liquid ejection head 40 that ejects ink onto the sheet S; the rectifying plate 50 is an extension extending in the scanning direction X. The carriage 30 is supported by a guide shaft 60 extending in the scanning direction X via a bearing 31 provided in the carriage 30, and the carriage 30 is provided movably along the guide shaft 60. The liquid ejection head 40 is mounted on the carriage 30, and the liquid ejection head 40 is provided so as to be exposed from a lower surface, which is a lower side of the carriage 30, in the vertical direction Z so as to face the support portion 13. The rectifying plate 50 is also provided on the lower surface of the carriage 30 so as to face the support portion 13. The lower surface of the liquid ejection head 40 is provided on the carriage 30 so as to slightly protrude from the lower surface of the rectifying plate 50.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the rectifying plate 50 included in the discharge unit 20 is provided to extend so that the length in the scanning direction X is longer than the length of the carriage 30. The rectifying plate 50 has a shape inclined so that the length in the scanning direction X from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction Y becomes shorter.

At an end portion of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X, a guide surface 51, which is a curved surface, is formed so as to extend in the conveying direction Y. The guide surface 51 has a forward-inclined shape that curves upward in the vertical direction Z as it approaches the carriage 30 from the end of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X (see fig. 4). The length of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X is configured to be longer by the guide surface 51 at the lower side than at the upper side in the vertical direction Z.

Further, at the end portions of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X, a plurality of ribs 52 as protruding portions protruding from the guide surface 51 toward a direction separating from the carriage 30 are formed in the scanning direction X, respectively. The rib 52 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness of the rib 52 in a direction along the conveyance direction Y, and has rigidity. The ribs 52 are provided so as to be arranged at intervals in the conveyance direction Y. That is, the guide surface 51 is formed at the end of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X and at a position between the adjacent ribs 52 in the conveying direction Y.

As shown in fig. 4, when the guide surface 51 side of the rib 52 extending from the guide surface 51 is set as the base end, an inclined portion 53 inclined with respect to the scanning direction X is formed at the tip end of the rib 52 on the opposite side to the base end. The inclined portion 53 is provided at a portion of the lower side of the rib 52 in the vertical direction Z, and is inclined from the base end to the tip end of the rib 52 toward the upper side in the vertical direction Z. The guide surface 51, the rib 52, and the inclined portion 53 are provided not only at one end portion of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X but also at the other end portion in the same manner.

Next, an operation of the printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) 11 configured as described above will be described.

As shown in fig. 5, when recording is performed on the sheet S supported by the support portion 13, the carriage 30 reciprocates above the support portion 13 along the guide shaft 60, and ink is ejected from the liquid ejection head 40 toward the sheet S. At this time, there is a case where a twist (wrinkle) is generated in the sheet S due to the ejection of ink, the nipping of the pair of

conveyance rollers

15a and 15b, or the like, and a raised portion M is generated in a part of the sheet S.

When the lifted portion M is generated on the sheet S, there is a possibility that the liquid ejection head 40 may be brought into contact with the lifted portion M by moving the carriage 30 in the scanning direction X. Since the liquid ejection head 40 is contaminated by adhering dust, paper dust, or the like to the liquid ejection head 40 or ink ejected onto the paper S, it is not preferable that the liquid ejection head 40 contact the raised portion M of the paper S. In this regard, the printer 11 according to the present embodiment includes the rib 52 on the rectifying plate 50 provided in the discharge unit 20.

When the raised portion M is generated on the sheet S, first, the rib 52 provided at the end of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X contacts the raised portion M to press the raised portion M toward the supporting portion 13, and thus the raised portion M is shortened or eliminated. That is, the possibility that the liquid ejection head 40 comes into contact with the sheet S is reduced. In addition, the rib 52 provided on the rectifying plate 50 is formed with an inclined portion 53. The tilted portion 53 can more effectively press the raised portion M against the sheet S in contact with the rib 52 toward the supporting portion 13.

Further, when the carriage 30 moves along the guide shaft 60, a gas flow (gas flow) F may be generated in the scanning direction X in the space a between the liquid discharge head 40 and the sheet S supported by the support portion 13. When the air flow F is generated in the space a, the ejection position of the ink onto the sheet S may be affected. In contrast, in the printer 11 of the present embodiment, since the long flow regulating plate 50 is provided on the ejection unit 20 along the scanning direction X, the flow resistance of the gas (air) in the space a increases. Therefore, the flow rate or flow velocity of the air flow F flowing into the space a between the liquid ejection head 40 and the sheet S supported by the support portion 13 decreases, and the deviation of the ink ejection position decreases.

As shown in fig. 6, a guide surface 51 is formed at an end portion of the current plate 50 in the scanning direction X. Since the guide surface 51 has a forward-inclined shape curved upward in the vertical direction Z, when the carriage 30 moves in the scanning direction X in the direction indicated by the hollow arrow, the air flow F is guided upward in the vertical direction Z along the guide surface 51. That is, the guide surface 51 guides the airflow F in a direction opposite to the direction in which the ribs 52 press the sheet S, with the ribs 52 interposed therebetween. Therefore, the flow rate of the air flow F flowing between the liquid ejection head 40 and the sheet S supported by the support portion 13 decreases. Further, since the rib 52 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the direction along the conveying direction Y, the airflow F is easily guided to the guide surface 51.

As shown in fig. 7, in the comparative example, a surface (i.e., where the guide surface 51 and the rib 52 are not provided) formed by the inclined portion 53 being long and continuous in the conveyance direction Y is formed at the end portion of the flow regulating plate 50. When the discharge unit 20 moves in the scanning direction X in the direction indicated by the hollow arrow, the raised portion M is pressed toward the support portion 13 by the end portion of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X. On the other hand, the air flow F is guided between the liquid ejection head 40 and the sheet S supported by the support portion 13 along the inclined portion 53 formed at the end of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X. That is, the flow rate or flow velocity of the air flow F in the space a increases, and the accuracy of ink ejection may be affected.

Here, the printer 11 according to the present embodiment includes the rib 52 that presses the raised portion M generated on the sheet S toward the support portion 13, and the guide surface 51 that guides the airflow F toward the opposite side of the direction in which the raised portion M is pressed by the rib 52 via the rib 52 by the forward tilt shape of the guide surface 51. That is, the ribs 52 press the sheet S toward the lower side in the vertical direction Z, and the guide surface 51 guides the airflow F flowing between the adjacent ribs 52 toward the upper side. Further, since the rib 52 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the direction along the conveying direction Y, the contact area of the rib 52 with respect to the sheet S is reduced. That is, the flow rate of the airflow F guided to the lower side in the vertical direction Z along the inclined portion 53 is reduced.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the ejection unit 20, the ribs 52 that press the raised portion M of the sheet S toward the support portion 13 are provided so as to be arranged at intervals in the conveyance direction Y. Therefore, unlike the case where the rib 52 is formed as a long continuous surface in the conveyance direction Y in the portion that contacts the raised portion M of the sheet S and presses the raised portion M toward the support portion 13 when the discharge unit 20 moves in the scanning direction X, the flow rate of the gas that is guided toward the space a between the discharge unit 20 and the support portion 13 during the movement is reduced. Therefore, the twist of the sheet S supported by the support portion 13 can be reduced, and the flow rate of the gas guided between the liquid discharge head 40 that discharges the ink onto the sheet S and the support portion 13 can be reduced.

(2) When the discharge unit 20 moves in the scanning direction X, the end surface of the rigid plate-like rib 52 in the scanning direction X contacts the raised portion M, which is a portion of the sheet S where distortion occurs. Therefore, even if the rib 52 comes into contact with the raised portion M when moving in the scanning direction X, the raised portion M can be sufficiently pressed against the support portion 13 while reducing the possibility of deformation, and the distortion of the sheet S can be reduced.

(3) When the carriage 30 moves in the scanning direction X, the gas flowing between the ribs 52 is guided by the guide surface 51 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the ribs 52 press the sheet S, with the ribs 52 interposed therebetween. Therefore, the flow rate of the gas guided between the liquid ejection head 40 and the support portion 13 when the carriage 30 moves in the scanning direction X can be reduced.

(4) The guide surface 51 is formed of a curved surface that curves toward the upper side in the vertical direction Z as it tends to approach the carriage 30 from the end of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X. Therefore, the gas flowing into the space between the ribs 52 adjacent to each other in the conveyance direction Y can be smoothly guided in the direction opposite to the direction in which the ribs 52 press the sheet S, with the ribs 52 interposed therebetween.

(5) By forming the rectifying plate 50 extending in the scanning direction X on the carriage 30, an air flow is less likely to be generated between the liquid ejection head 40 and the support portion 13 when the carriage 30 moves in the scanning direction X. That is, the deviation of the landing position of the ink ejected from the liquid ejection head 40 with respect to the sheet S supported by the support portion 13 can be reduced.

(6) Since the inclined portion 53 is formed in the rib 52, the raised portion M can be more effectively pressed toward the support portion 13 when the rib 52 contacts the raised portion M. That is, the rib 52 having the inclined portion 53 can more effectively reduce or eliminate the raised portion M.

(7) A rib 52 as a protruding portion extending along the scanning direction X is provided at an end portion of the ejection unit 20 in the scanning direction X. Therefore, when the ejection unit 20 moves in the scanning direction X, the raised portion M comes into contact with the rib 52 before coming into contact with the liquid ejection head 40, and the rib 52 presses the raised portion M toward the support portion 13, thereby shortening or eliminating the raised portion M. Therefore, the possibility that the liquid ejection head 40 is contaminated by contact with the raised portion M can be reduced.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

As shown in fig. 8, in the above embodiment, the rectifying plate 50 is not limited to the configuration in which it is provided so as to extend along the scanning direction X from the lower surface of the carriage 30, and may be provided so as to extend along the scanning direction X from the side surface of the carriage 30. In this structure, the rectifying plates 50 are respectively provided at the end portions of the carriage 30 in the scanning direction X, and the liquid ejection head 40 is exposed from the lower surface of the carriage 30.

As shown in fig. 9, in the above embodiment, the protruding portion provided at the end portion of the rectifying plate 50 in the scanning direction X is not limited to the plate-shaped rib 52, and may be a non-plate-shaped protruding portion as in the tube 52 a. The tube 52a is not limited to the one, and may be a protrusion having a shape that is provided so as to be arranged at intervals in the conveyance direction Y and presses the raised portion M toward the support portion 13.

As shown in fig. 9, in the above embodiment, the guide surface 51 is not limited to a curved surface, and may be an inclined surface. Further, the surface may have a step.

As shown in fig. 10, in the above embodiment, the discharge unit 20 may not be provided with the rectifying plate 50. In this structure, a rib 52 as a protruding portion is formed on a side surface of the carriage 30. By providing the ribs 52, the possibility of the turn-up portion M coming into contact with the liquid ejection head 40 is reduced. Further, since the ribs 52 are provided so as to be arranged at intervals in the conveying direction Y, the flow rate of the air flow F guided toward the space a between the liquid ejection head 40 and the sheet S supported by the support portion 13 can be reduced. In the discharge unit 20 shown in fig. 10 as a modified example, the guide surface 51 may be provided between the ribs 52 in the conveyance direction Y, and the flow rate of the air flow F guided to the space a may be further reduced by providing the guide surface 51.

In the above embodiment, the rib 52 may not include the inclined portion 53. Even if the inclined portion 53 is not provided, the rib 52 can press the raised portion M toward the support portion 13, thereby shortening or eliminating the raised portion M. The airflow F can be guided upward in the vertical direction Z by the guide surface 51.

In the above embodiment, the rib 52 is not limited to the one provided so as to protrude from the guide surface 51. For example, the guide surface may be provided so as to extend along the scanning direction X from between a plurality of guide surfaces 51 provided independently at a plurality of positions in the transport direction Y.

In the above embodiment, the lower surface of the liquid discharge head 40 on the lower side in the vertical direction Z may be flush with the lower surface of the rectifying plate 50. By forming the flat surface, the turbulence of the air flow F flowing between the liquid ejection head 40 and the support portion 13 can be reduced. By reducing the disturbance of the air flow F, the ink landing position can be easily corrected. Further, a technique for correcting the ink landing position is known. Further, by making the lower surface of the liquid ejection head 40 flush with the lower surface of the rectifying plate 50, the possibility that the liquid ejection head 40 comes into contact with the raised portion M can be further reduced.

In the above embodiment, the rectifying plate 50 is not limited to the configuration having the shape inclined so that the length in the scanning direction X becomes shorter from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction Y, and may be, for example, a shape in which the length in the scanning direction X becomes longer from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction Y, or may be a fixed shape. The flow rectification plate 50 may have an oval shape, and the shape of the flow rectification plate 50 is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the discharge unit 20 is not limited to the configuration in which the guide surface 51, the rib 52, and the inclined portion 53 are provided at both ends in the scanning direction X, and may be provided only at any one end. In particular, the ink is ejected onto the sheet S, and therefore, the sheet S often has a twist (wrinkle). Therefore, in the case of the printer 11 that ejects ink when the ejection unit 20 moves in one direction and does not eject ink when the ejection unit 20 moves in the other direction, it is considered that the possibility of contact with the raised portion M due to twisting is high when the ejection unit 20 moves in the other direction after completing ink ejection by moving in one direction. Therefore, even in the case of a configuration in which the guide surface 51, the rib 52, and the inclined portion 53 are provided at the end portion on the other direction side of the ejection unit 20 in the scanning direction X, the raised portion M can be shortened or eliminated, and the airflow F can be guided to the upper side in the vertical direction Z. Of course, even if the guide surface 51, the rib 52, and the inclined portion 53 are provided only at one end portion in the moving direction in ejecting the ink, since there is a possibility that the twist may occur when the sheet S is conveyed, the raised portion M can be shortened or eliminated and the air flow F can be guided upward in the vertical direction Z.

In the above embodiment, the medium from which the ink is ejected by the liquid ejection head 40 is not limited to the sheet S as the continuous sheet unwound from the roll R, and may be a single sheet. In addition, the medium is not limited to paper, and various other materials such as cloth, metal foil, and plastic may be used.

In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid other than ink. The state of the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge device in the form of a fine droplet includes a granular state, a tear state, and a state in which a tail is pulled out from a thread. The liquid referred to herein may be a material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, the material may be in a state where the substance is in a liquid phase, and may be a fluid containing a liquid material having a relatively high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, another inorganic solvent, an organic solvent, a solution, a liquid resin, or a liquid metal (molten metal). The liquid in one state of matter includes not only a liquid in which particles of a functional material composed of a solid substance such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include the ink and the liquid crystal described in the above embodiments. The ink herein refers to various liquid compositions including common water-based inks, oil-based inks, gel-like inks, and hot-melt inks. Specific examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material dispersed or dissolved therein, which is used for manufacturing, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro luminescence) display, a surface emitting display, a color filter, or the like. Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a living organism used for manufacturing a biochip, a liquid ejecting apparatus that is used as a precision pipette and ejects a liquid as a sample, a textile printing apparatus, a micro-dispenser, or the like. Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a lubricant at a precise position to a precision instrument such as a clock or a camera, or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin onto a substrate in order to form a micro hemispherical lens (optical lens) or the like used for an optical communication element or the like. Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching liquid such as an acid or an alkali for etching a substrate or the like.

Description of the symbols

11: a printer (liquid ejection device); 13: a support portion; 20: an ejection unit; 30: a carriage (moving body); 40: a liquid ejection head; 50: a rectifying plate (extension portion); 51: a guide surface; 52: ribs (projections); 52 a: a tube (protrusion); s: paper; x: scanning direction; y: the direction of conveyance.

Claims

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes:

a support portion that supports a medium to be conveyed;

an ejection unit configured to include a movable body that is movable in a scanning direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the medium, and a liquid ejection head that is mounted on the movable body and ejects liquid onto the medium,

at an end of the ejection unit in the scanning direction, a guide surface and a plurality of protruding portions protruding from the guide surface along the scanning direction are provided,

the plurality of projecting portions are provided on the guide surface so as to be arranged at intervals in the conveying direction,

the protrusion is a plate-shaped rib having rigidity, extending in the scanning direction, and having a plate thickness direction along the transport direction, and the protrusion presses the twist of the medium toward the support portion by moving the moving body in the scanning direction,

the guide surface guides the gas flowing between the ribs when the moving body moves in the scanning direction in a direction opposite to a direction in which the ribs press the medium with the ribs interposed therebetween,

the rib is provided on the guide surface so as to extend from a lower end of the guide surface to an upper end of the guide surface.

2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1,

the guide surface is an inclined slope or a curved surface.

3. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1 or 2,

the ejection unit has an extension portion provided extending from the movable body along the scanning direction, and the protrusion is formed at an end of the extension portion in the scanning direction.